Evalena s



No. 6|3,333. PatentqdNov. I, I898.

E. S. THOMAS.

TILE.

(No Model) (Application filed" Mar. 24, 1897.)

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EVALENA S. THOMAS, OF LINDENVVOLD, NEW JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,333, dated November 1, 1898.

Application fil d March 24, 1897- fierial No. 629,006. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EVALENA S. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lindenwold, Camden county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to-tiles adapted to be set in cement for the formation or inlaying of floors, walls, and the like; and it consists in constructing the tile of the generalform of a crescent in planular outline, with one or both of its vertical edges'of irregular form, not alone for the advantages in an esthetic sense derivable from more shape or configuration, but mainly for the functional advantages due to such form in a tile, which will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a floor laid with tiles constructed according to my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4:, and 5 are views illustrating the ready adaptability of my tile to form peculiar designs of which no other known form of construction of tile is capable. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing theadvantages of my tile in mosaic work. Figs. 7 to 19, inclusive, are plan views showing different shapes of tiles embraced by the invention.

As well known, tiles are usually composed of a body of clay or other suitable material and are given shape or form in a die or mold and then hardened in a furnace. Their upper side or surface is the wearing or floor.

surface, and their lower side or surface is intended to be laid in a layer of cement to main tain them in position on the floor.

In the construction of my improved tile 1 make it, preferably, of the thickness of fiveeighths of an inch throughout, the top and bottom surface being flat or planular, if desired, or may be indented or in riliero.

Either the concave or the convex edge or Vertical face of the tile, or both such edges or faces, is of irregularform, being broken by projections or rentrant curves, as indicated in the drawings, which show such projections and curves as being of various forms, the invention not being limited to any particular form of the tile in this respect; nor is it limited to a tile whose crescent form in planular outline is composed of any particular set of curves; but it may be formed of any set of curves, such as the arcs of a larger and a smaller inner and outer circle or the arcs of a circle and an ellipse, or of the arcs of a circle and a parabola, or of the arcs of a parabola and an ellipse, or of the arcs of two ellipses or of two parabolas, so that at least one of its vertical faces be of irregular form and its general shape in plan that of a ores cent. v

Tiles as heretofore commonly constructed are all rectangular or other form, which includes straight or irregular-shaped sides, and any variations of size of a lot of similar tiles cause alarge percentage of loss in laying them. Such variations occur mainly from shrinkage from firing. Variations in color occur from like causes, and variations in external con= figuration occur also from wear of molds or dies.

lVith my improved form of tile variations in color, size, and uniformity of outline are not within reasonable limits at all material, and, furthermore, greater freedom in laying and manipulation of the tiles is possible, a greater number of designs permissible, a

tiles and relaying new ones, economy in cost of manufacture in the absence of necessity for accuracy in molds or dies and in the firing of the product.

Other functional'advantages arising from my novel form of tile are as follows: that the great care required in making the ordinary rectilinear tiles conform to each other in out= line and to the exact shape of the die or mold is rendered unnecessary with my tile because of its form, which enables it to be set, irrespective of conformity in size, color, or regularity of outline, between any two or more such tiles in the same flooring. The saving and advantage thus obtained is great, because in the respects mentioned is involved the greater part of the cost of ordinary tiles.

Additional advantages in setting the tile arise from the following reasons: An exact agreement of shade is not essential because of the irregularity of the form of the tile, and

the tiles need not be set in exact juxtaposi= greater ease in removal of broken or injured v 1. As a new article of manufacture, a tile constructed in the form of a crescent in planu- 15 lar outline, and having an irregular vertical side, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tile constructedin the form of a crescent in plannlar outline with irregular Vertical sides: sub- 20 stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EVALENA S. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. GROSS, T. H. KUMMERER. 

